Posts from the "Latest News" category
NZ: Food Safety Arrangement signed with Viet Nam
Scoop independent news: Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed an arrangement between New Zealand and Viet Nam to strengthen food safety cooperation.
The Food Safety Cooperation Arrangement between the Ministry for Primary Industries and Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development aims to promote recognition and consistency between the regulatory systems of the two countries.
“The arrangement commits to exchanging information on food safety and agricultural trade laws, simplification of trade certification and collaboration on scientific research and post-graduate education,” says Mrs Goodhew.
Click here to read the full article from Scoop.
AU: NSW Food Safety Strategy 2015-2021
NSW Food Authority: The NSW Food Safety Strategy 2015- 2021 outlines our commitment to the management of food safety and the reduction of incidence of foodborne illness across the supply chain that underpins confidence in our state’s valuable food industry – and contributes $113 billion to the NSW economy each year.
As Australia’s first and only through-chain food regulatory agency, the Food Authority is responsible for supporting industry and the community to deliver food safety across the entire food industry, from primary production to point-of-sale. At every stage along the supply chain we monitor, evaluate and educate our industry partners as well as our consumers, to meet our ultimate objective – to provide certainty and confidence that food is safe in NSW.
Click here to read the full article from the NSW Food Authority, including their six year targets and a link to the strategy.
Microbial contamination seminar by Dr Trevor Suslow (UC Davis) available for viewing online
25 March 2015
Dr Trevor Suslow, from UC Davis, and Board member of the Center for Produce Safety, presented a seminar on current issues in microbial contamination of horticultural produce at the University of Sydney on Friday 20 March at 11.00am. The seminar has kindly been made available by the University of Sydney, and is available for viewing online using Adobe Connect (free download).
NZ: Mandatory Traceability Proposed
Horticulture New Zealand: The [NZ] government is considering applying the Dairy Traceability Working Group’s recommendations around traceability to all food sectors and businesses. To view the reports visit http://foodsafety.govt.nz. The proposals relate to mandatory record keeping and the requirement to share information with regulators within 24 hours in a food safety emergency. HortNZ agrees traceability is important and most growers and horticulture exporters already have good systems in place to meet market requirements. HortNZ will be looking carefully at the proposed regulatory changes which will be fully consulted on in July 2015.
This article from the Horticulture New Zealand Newsletter 24th March 2015.
AU/NZ: Submissions close soon for comment on Guidelines discussion paper.
The Fresh Produce Safety Centre is seeking comments on the content, presentation structure and format of the Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety. Please submit your comments by 13 April 2015.
Click here to download the discussion paper and upload comments.
The Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety has been sponsored by these organisations:
AU/US: Current issues in microbial contamination of horticultural produce
20 March 2015
Dr Trevor Suslow, from UC Davis, and Board member of the Center for Produce Safety, presented a seminar on current issues in microbial contamination of horticultural produce at the University of Sydney on Friday 20 March at 11.00am
A recording of the seminar is available for viewing using Adobe Connect.
Trevor has a PhD from UC Berkley and currently is an extension specialist in postharvest pathology and microbiology of perishable horticultural commodities and lightly-processed (fresh-cut) vegetables, the role of environmental and crop production practices on postharvest quality and safety of edible horticultural crops, microbial safety and disinfection of preharvest and postharvest water, and biologically-mediated controls of postharvest diseases and pathogens of human food safety concern.
Read Article →AU: Are Supermarkets Safe? Berry Crisis Reveals Poor Food Safety Tests for Imports
Australian Institute of Food Safety: Consumer confidence throughout Australia has suffered a serious hit recently as customers question the safety of imported foods after imported berries caused 26 suspected instances of hepatitis A.
But the crisis isn’t limited to berries. Approximately 200 other imported foods destined for supermarket shelves in the last six months have been found to have contained contaminating substances capable of provoking cholera, miscarriages and other damage. What makes the news worse is that 83 of those items were already up for sale before anyone realised they had failed the food safety tests.
Click here to read the full article by Rebekah Carter at the Australian Institute of Food Safety
NZ: Food safety ‘key to new Chinese research agreement’
Fuseworks media writes: Lincoln University continues to develop its interests in China with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South China University of Technology, from Guangdong Province.
As well as offering exchange opportunities for academic staff and students, the MOU aims to establish joint research projects between the two institutions. Most significantly, the requirements for developing a joint research centre for food safety and processing will also be discussed.
“At the heart of this MOU is a desire to form research collaborations more specifically around food safety, food processing, and nutrition,” says Lincoln University Professor of Food Science, Charles Brennan.
Click here to read the full article from Fuseworks Media.
AU: Food Poisoning Quiz
ABC Health & Wellbeing: Recent events highlight that we can all be vulnerable to food poisoning so test your knowledge of the causes of food poisoning and how you can prevent getting sick in the first place.
Click here to access the ABC Health & Wellbeing 7 Question Quiz.
US: New Food Safety Protocols Published for Reusable Grocery Containers
Reusable plastic containers used to transport fruits and vegetables have proliferated across the grocery industry in recent years despite recent warnings from university research studies suggesting the containers may harbor and spread harmful pathogens over time.
Responding to critics, the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) has issued comprehensive, science-based protocols for the use of grocery containers for produce, while at the same time maintaining that no documented food safety issues have arisen related to their use.
The guidelines cover the best practices for washing and handling reusable plastic containers (RPCs), as well as outlines for regular microbiological testing. For growers, key food safety practices should include wrapping pallets of RPCs, transporting RPCs in covered trailers, and storing RPCs under cover, the RPA said. The association also asks retailers to handle and load RPC pallets like any other packaged commodity.
Click here to read the full article from Food safety News.